Buck Showalter joins MLB Network as a studio analyst
Aug. 25, 2020 – Three-time Manager of the Year Buck Showalter has joined MLB Network’s lineup of on-air personalities as an analyst appearing across its programming. Showalter will make his debut today, Aug. 25 on MLB Tonight at 2 p.m. EDT alongside host Fran Charles and analyst Bill Ripken. Following today, Showalter will be part of tomorrow’s MLB Network Showcase game telecast presented by Chevrolet featuring the Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros at 1 p.m. EDT, which will use an enhanced broadcast format from Statcast powered by Google Cloud. Showalter will be part of Friday’s MLB Tonight, and Sunday’s MLB Network Showcase game telecast featuring the Seattle Mariners at the Los Angeles Angels at 4 pm. EDT. Showalter will also be part of MLB Network’s wall-to-wall Trade Deadline coverage Monday, Aug. 31.
“I’m honored by this opportunity to join MLB Network and contribute alongside this solid group of people,” said Showalter. “Mark DeRosa, Al Leiter, Dan Plesac and Jim Thome played for me. Harold Reynolds has been a close friend of mine, and I’ve known Bill Ripken for a long time. I look forward to talking baseball with these guys and the rest of the team as we try to enhance our fans’ love of the game.”
MLB Network President Rob McGlarry said, “Buck’s wealth of baseball knowledge has always been on full display when he’s joined as a guest over the years, and we’re thrilled that he’s now joining our team. With the Postseason races about to take shape, we know Buck will contribute insightful analysis across all our different programs as he draws on his more than 40 years in the game.”
Showalter compiled 1,551 wins in his 20 seasons as an MLB manager, including nine with the Baltimore Orioles (2010-2018), four with the Texas Rangers (2003-2006), three with the Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-2000) and four with the New York Yankees (1992-1995). Showalter’s 1,551 career wins rank 24th all-time in MLB history, and his 669 wins with Baltimore rank second all-time behind Hall of Famer Earl Weaver (1,480). For the first time since 1997, Showalter guided the 2012 Orioles to their first of three Postseason appearances, leading Baltimore to a 93-69 record. Following the 2012 Postseason appearance, Showalter led the Orioles to the American League Championship Series in 2014 before being named the AL Manager of the Year for the third time (2004 with the Rangers and 1994 with the Yankees). As the first manager in Diamondbacks history, Showalter’s 1999 team made the Postseason for the first time, and his 1995 Yankees played in the Postseason for the first time in 14 years. Drafted in the fifth round of 1977 MLB Draft by the Yankees, Showalter would go on to spend 19 years in the organization, including three different managerial positions in the Minor Leagues, before joining the Major League coaching staff in 1990.